Police hunt farm owner over encroached section of Musamya Wetland in Buikwe
In the meantime, the Environmental Protection Police Unit and the Buikwe District Natural Resources Department have embarked on a joint exercise to restore the wetland that had been encroached on by members of the local community.
Ssezibwa Regional Police spokesperson Hellen Butoto. (File photo)
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Environmental Protection Police in Buikwe District have launched a manhunt for a farm owner accused of illegally allocating plots within the Musamya Wetland system in Lugazi Municipality, leading to widespread environmental degradation.
In the meantime, the Environmental Protection Police Unit and the Buikwe District Natural Resources Department have embarked on a joint exercise to restore the wetland that had been encroached on by members of the local community.
According to Ssezibwa Regional Police spokesperson Hellen Butoto, the wetland had been cleared for farming, with settlers introducing invasive and non-native plant species, including eucalyptus trees, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and cabbages.
"The community had converted part of this fragile ecosystem into agricultural land after clearing the natural vegetation," Butoto said.
"During interrogation, the locals informed investigators that Mugisha had allowed them to occupy sections of the wetland and cultivate crops of their choice," Butoto said.
Police have since opened a case against Mugisha at Lugazi Police Station under reference number SD 23/11/06/2026. Mugisha remains at large as authorities intensify efforts to arrest him.
As part of the enforcement operation, officers uprooted all invasive plant species from the affected section of the wetland to pave the way for natural regeneration.
After the operation, the team conducted a community sensitisation campaign aimed at educating residents on the importance of protecting wetlands. Environmental conservation messages were also broadcast through a local radio station to further discourage encroachment and promote sustainable use of natural resources.
Forest, wetland coverage
However, the country has been steadily increasing the forest cover but the mushrooming wood processing units in the country have led to a reduction in the forest cover.
According to the water ministry, the national wetlands coverage as a percentage of the total land area declined from 15.6% in 1994 to 8.9% currently. The major causes of wetland degradation include poor farming practices, unplanned urbanisation and settlements, sand mining, and industrialisation.
Additionally, the forest cover has declined from 24% of Uganda’s total land area in 1990 to 12.4% currently. This is majorly attributed to biomass fuel cooking/combustion with other auxiliary drivers such as expansion of agricultural land, sporadic urbanisation.
The depletion of the forest cover was largely attributed to the mushrooming wood processing units in the country in addition to illegal timber exports.
Speaking during the closure of the Uganda Water and Environment Week 2025 last year, the acting Commissioner in the meteorological services department at the water ministry, Dr Bob Alex Ogwang, said there is a need to avoid environmental degradation, protect wetlands and forests because they have a bearing on weather patterns.